Twitter Reacts To Wild UFC 203
UFC 203 emanated from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH, tonight (Saturday, September 10, 2016). The UFC’s latest offering on pay-per-view (PPV) was headlined by the heavyweight title battle between new champion Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem. Fighting in his hometown, Miocic had to contend with the powerful striking of the Dutch knockout artist. What ensued was a Round of the Year contender.
What ensued was a Round of the Year contender.
Miocic survived a knockdown and a tight guillotine attempt to return to his feet. He pressured Overeem throughout the encounter, and both heavyweights landed shots that had their adversary in trouble. Overeem on several occasions turned and ran along the fence to try and create space for himself from the pursuing champion. When Miocic caught a body kick from Overeem that stumbled the challenger, he pounced into top position. From there he rained down ground and pound until the challenger was unconscious, forcing referee Marc Goddard to intervene. Miocic is now halfway to the UFC heavyweight title defense record with one.
The co-feature of the evening saw former champion Fabricio Werdum, coming off an embarrassing knockout loss to Miocic in his first title defense, try to reinsert himself in the title picture against familiar nemesis Travis Browne. Werdum dominated a strange and largely uneventful three rounds that saw Browne suffer an injured finger in the first round. What followed had many fans and pundits up in arms, as he turned away from Werdum and seemed to tell the ref that his finger was hurt. Referee Gary Copeland called the doctor in to examine the finger while Browne tried to pop it back into place.
Werdum dominated a strange and largely uneventful three rounds that saw Browne suffer an injured finger in the first round. What followed had many fans and pundits up in arms, as he turned away from Werdum and seemed to tell the ref that his finger was hurt. Referee Gary Copeland called the doctor in to examine the finger while Browne tried to pop it back into place. In the end Browne was allowed to continue.
When the dust settled and the fighters waited for the decision to be announced, a post-fight dust-up between Werdum and Browne’s corner ensued. Video footage revealed Werdum front-kicking Glendale Fight Club founder Edmond Tarverdyan before both corners were banished from the Octagon. Werdum was eventually awarded a unanimous decision.
The event also gave us the highly anticipated, but often mocked, MMA debut of former professional wrestling star Phil “CM Punk” Brooks. He faced off with Mickey Gall, a 2-0 fighter found on Dana White‘s “Lookin’ for a Fight” reality series.
Punk charged out of his corner, looking to engage Gall on the feet immediately. But his opponent refused to oblige him, dropping for a double leg the moment Punk got within reach. From there he gradually advanced position, softened up his famous foe with ground and pound, took the back, and eventually sunk in the choke for the victory. Punk was able to defend and stave off the inevitable for a time, perhaps saving a modicum of face in what had clearly become a no-win situation.
See how Twitter reacted to the wild and strange night of fights:
Dear mma gods please let Stipe vs Overeem save #UFC203 🙏🏼
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/FurysFightPicks/status/774822890814447616
LETS GOOOO STIPEEEEE!!!!!#UFC203
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 11, 2016
Deafening pop for Miocic who comes out to some Cleveland song. So smart to book this fight here. He comes off like a star.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 11, 2016
The crowd in Cleveland is nuts! @ufc 203
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 11, 2016
HELL YEAAAA STIPEEEE!!!! What a finish brotha!! Congrats to people out in Cleveland👊🏾👊🏾 #UFC203
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 11, 2016
Crazy back and forth fight! #UFC203
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 11, 2016
#AndStill UFC heavyweight champion of the world @StipeMiocicUFC!!!! #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/W6N45SSDRK
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2016
Great fight!!
— Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) September 11, 2016
Wow. So that's the first time the heavyweight title has been successfully defended in at least 5 years right? #ufc203 #steepheymeohcheck
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2016
STIPE!!!!!!!!! #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/2CIdMqMt3T
— MMA GOSSiP (@MMAxGossip) September 11, 2016
MOAR LIEK ALISNORE OVERDREAM!!!!!
— Suzanne (@SoozieCuzie) September 11, 2016
That FIGHT!!! What a show by @stipemiocicufc Overeem fought very well but Stipe would NOT be denied. #UFC203
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 11, 2016
O-H!!!!!! #UFC203 https://t.co/kbPe2t1Jh8
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2016
"Turned the Motherboard off." – @stipemiocicufc
— MiddleEasy (@MiddleEasy) September 11, 2016
Oh, Overeem. Not like this. #UFC203
— Jee (@yellowpwerrngr) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/774827597674917889
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016
Replay disagrees with Overeem. Crowd boos. The man was just knocked unconscious so … this is still awkward.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/_EOW_/status/774830924999626756
Werdum has lost every single fuck he ever had. #UFC203
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/774815356573462528
Why even have doctors?
— Suzanne (@SoozieCuzie) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/774816679545171968
So did Browne get his finger busted because he had it OUTSTRETCHED?!?! Poetic justice #eyepoke #ufc202
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2016
What a crazy, weird heavyweight fight. This sport is wacky and beautiful.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 11, 2016
Um…not sayin' I'm not entertained but dang. 😂Haha #WeirdestFightInHistory WerdumVsBrown @ufc 😱😳👊🏽 #UFC203
— Ashlee Evans-Smith (@AshleeMMA) September 11, 2016
That flying sidekick from Werdum might be the sickest thing I've ever seen from a heavyweight in the octagon. #UFC203
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 11, 2016
Edmond Taverdyan losing his voice would be the best thing he could do for Travis Browne. #UFC203
— Jee (@yellowpwerrngr) September 11, 2016
I miss the Browne who KO'd Reem with a kick. #ufc203
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) September 11, 2016
Everything Edmond Tarverdyan wanted to tell Ronda Rousey he's telling Travis Browne. Damn near lost his voice. Over the top emotion.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) September 11, 2016
#UFC203 pic.twitter.com/QBiUUc0veg
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) September 11, 2016
— Suzanne (@SoozieCuzie) September 11, 2016
Edmond Tarverdyan being escorted out of the arena under a rain of boos after getting into it with Werdum's corner. Wow.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 11, 2016
I HOPE YOU'RE PROUD
— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor トム・ローラー (@FilthyTomLawlor) September 11, 2016
Damn….Werdum's front kick is on point tonight #UFC203
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 11, 2016
Did he just teep him? I'm dying lol #ufc203
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 11, 2016
Where's Mayhem Miller? #UFC203
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) September 11, 2016
Holy crap. Tarverdyan yelled at Werdum, who won, and then Werdum kicked him! Browne's corner gets ejected. This is nuts.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 11, 2016
Brown was doomed from the beginning, his coach didn't even know how to defend Werdum's teeps @CoachEdmund #UFC203
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Patrick_Wyman/status/774820263150039040
https://twitter.com/SandhuMMA/status/774821650713939968
Obviously Werdum should have never engaged, but a veteran cornerman should never step to and yell at a fighter like that right after. Crazy.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 11, 2016
They let him do it! #HeyMickey #UFC203
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) September 11, 2016
Hahaha! So glad @danawhite let Gall walkout to this song!
— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) September 11, 2016
THEY LET HIM WALK OUT TO HIS SONGGGG!!!! #UFC203
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2016
Gall cool as a cucumber. Smiling on his way to the cage.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 11, 2016
Chicago recognize chicago, let's go @CMPunk #UFC203 #TeamPunk
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) September 11, 2016
Mickey kinda reminds me of Iceman from Top Gun.
— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/774809374862761984
No matter what happens @CMPunk made that walk only few have made. And he's stepping in that octagon. Huge props. No one can hate #UFC203
— Michael McDonald (@MaydayMcDonald) September 11, 2016
I got Mickey Gall by 1st rd destruction! Lol
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) September 11, 2016
They're smartly promoting both sides of the fight. Either guy wins they do too. https://t.co/eLQcIxPHPk
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) September 11, 2016
Go get yours homie👊🏽 @CMPunk.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 11, 2016
CM Punk looking pumped #UFC203
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 11, 2016
CM Punk all smiles. It's been a while since he's made a walk to this song in front of thousands of spectators. What a moment.
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 11, 2016
Vince McMahon right now #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/9HLxDPiOmM
— MMA GOSSiP (@MMAxGossip) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/123midnite/status/774810539968962560
The huevos CM Punk has to make that walk is something very few people have. However, the game just doesn't work this way. #UFC203 #CMPunk
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) September 11, 2016
That went as expected. It’s tough to be in that cage though… and @CMPunk did something a lot of people wouldn’t. #UFC203 #FreshCauliflower
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) September 11, 2016
Moral victory for CM Punk for going that long. Congrats to him for doing it! Oh, and congrats for that purse I'm sure.
— TJ De Santis (@TJDeSantis) September 11, 2016
CM Punk had better not drain that cauliflower ear. That's a hell of a trophy from the coolest thing you can do.
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) September 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/ZPGIFs/status/774812950431469568
. @CMPunk Thanks for stepping in the octagon #respect #UFC203 @ufc
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) September 11, 2016
Funny thing is Punk just earned more respect in his defeat than Micky did in victory. #takethathoweveryouwant #UFC203
— Corey 'Overtime' Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) September 11, 2016
DOES GALL KNOW SAGE CAN DO THIS ?!?!?! #UFC203 pic.twitter.com/Msi5GKyAcR
— Tony Thumb Poke (@TonyThumbPoke) September 11, 2016
CM Punk should absolutely be respected. What a cool guy! Mickey Gall is a tough kid and he's smart. Excellent post fight speeches! #UFC203
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 11, 2016
